Abstract: A storage interface unit can exchange player's individual information with an external storage device placed on a gaming machine. An individual information manager unit uses the individual information in player identification or as credits. A game control unit executes a game program and thereby conducts a game. An alarm unit monitors the connection between the storage interface unit and the storage device, or the presence or absence of the storage device on the gaming machine. The alarm unit outputs a warning message or signal indicating that the storage device is still positioned where it can communicate with the storage interface unit. The warning message or signal is outputted, for example, when the game control unit has received from the player the instruction to convert his/her credits into cash or monetary information to be stored in the storage device, or when the player's credits have been reduced to zero.

Abstract: A touch panel switch assembly according to the present invention is installed in a gaming machine, and comprises a base, a moving unit, an elastic member, a display unit, a position sensor, and a mechanical switch unit. The moving unit is supported by the base fixed on the gaming machine, and can move in the direction perpendicular to the surface thereof. The elastic member can exert a restoring force between the base and the moving unit when a player has pushed the moving unit. The display unit is mounted on the base or the moving unit, and visible through the moving unit. The position sensor can detect a position on the moving unit where the player has touched. The mechanical switch unit is mounted between the base and the moving unit, and can be turned on and off depending on the position of the moving unit.

Abstract: In a thin-client gaming system according to the present invention, a server performs computations for the control over a game on a gaming machine, and hardware thereof including hybrid reel assemblies. Each hybrid reel assembly includes a mechanical reel and electric display devices mounted on the circumferential surface of the reel. The server commands the display devices and motors of the hybrid reel assemblies, and provides image data to the display devices. By using a terminal observer unit, the server estimates the current status of the gaming terminal, and in particular the hybrid reel assemblies. Preferably, when having estimated excessive deviation between the positions of the reels and symbols displayed on the display devices, the terminal observer unit will quickly cause a game process to be stopped and the reels to continuously rotate, and then inform a game system administrator of the error.

Abstract: In a gaming system according to the present invention, a server monitors jackpot values and the availability of a plurality of jackpot systems, and thereby produces list outputs of the jackpot values and the available gaming machines. The gaming system provides players with the lists displayed in a screen, and allows each player to select one of the available gaming machines in accordance with the jackpot values. When the jackpot systems are separated from each other and the server, the server reserves the gaming machine selected by a player by using the lists. The selected gaming machine is locked unless the server verifies customer ID data entered into the selected gaming machine. When the server virtually constructs all the jackpot systems, the server will link a virtual gaming machine, which a player has selected by using the lists, to a gaming terminal that the player actually operates.

Abstract: A gaming system of the present invention is arranged in a location like a hotel and casino, wherein a server connects virtual gaming machines with mobile gaming terminals that customers can carry in any of the areas in the location. The server selects one mobile gaming terminal in a lottery process, and stores customer ID data for the player in possession of the selected mobile gaming terminal. The server detects the mobile gaming terminals that are located in a specific area, and checks the customer ID data received from the detected mobile gaming terminals. If the received customer ID data is the same as the customer ID data stored in the server, the server will allow the player who input the detected customer ID data to play a special game on the mobile gaming terminal located in the specific area, or on a gaming machine installed in the specific area.

Abstract: In a slot machine, the display unit includes a region on which a plurality of symbol columns and rows are displayed. Normal directions of surfaces of the region, on which the symbol columns placed at both ends of the symbol rows are displayed, intersect in front of the display unit. The display unit preferably includes mechanical reels placed at ribs of a fan. Normal directions of circumferential surfaces of the mechanical reels at the forward ends thereof intersect at substantially the same point, and thereby the front ends oppose a player. The display unit may be alternatively an electronic display device that includes a curved or bent screen. Normal directions of surfaces on which video reels are displayed intersect at substantially the same point, and thereby the surfaces oppose a player.

Abstract: A gaming machine is disclosed which includes a rotor (a reel or a roulette wheel) including a visible surface on which symbols are displayed. The visible surface includes a laminated structure with micro lens and dotted pattern layers, which cooperate to create an illusion of depth in a backdrop for the symbols. Preferably, the micro lens and dotted pattern layers are laminated on a sheet mounted on the visible surface. Alternatively, portions of the rotor including the micro lens layer may be molded of transparent plastic material, and the dotted pattern layer may be laminated on a sheet placed on the inner side of the visible surface. The three-dimensional appearance of the backdrop will entice persons to play games on the gaming machine. In addition, players will primarily stare at the two-dimensional symbols while playing games, and thus can avoid eye strain regardless of the three-dimensional appearance of the backdrop.

Abstract: In a gaming machine of the present invention, a holder unit removably holds a portable storage device having a display unit and a storage unit in a position where the screen of the display unit is visible to a player. A reader unit reads storage contents from the storage unit. A data processor unit processes the storage contents. The gaming machine can use not only the storage contents stored in the storage unit, but also the display unit to provide a player with various additional information in a text or graphic form with visual effects for games. The gaming machine includes a display controller unit, which controls the display unit as a sub-display device to complement a game display unit that displays a game screen. The display controller unit may change images displayed on the screen of the display unit depending on the game status.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of reels is provided with a plurality of symbols including at least one special symbol. At least one payline is extending across the reels. At least one electro-optical panel includes a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate which sandwiches an electro-optical substance therebetween. At least one of the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate is formed with at least one bored portion having a shape substantially coincident with an contour of the special symbol, the electro-optical panel disposed in front of each of the reels such that the bored portion is placed on the payline. A controller controls a state of the electro-optical substance in accordance with a predetermined rule to adjust a transparency of the electro-optical panel.

Abstract: A game system and game device are disclosed which shorten the time needed until a game is selected when a player is selecting a game with an operation accepting unit. When play history of players associated with player-specifying information (player ID) is stored in an identifier storage unit, and the input accepting unit accepts the player ID prior to acceptance by an operation accepting unit of game selection operation, an assist display image based on the play history associated with the accepted player ID is displayed prior to acceptance of game selection operation by the operation accepting unit. In this way, the player can check his/her own play history and the time a player takes to decide which game to play can be shortened.

Abstract: A gaming system of the present invention comprises a server and a gaming terminal that can communicate with each other. A player operates a console unit of the gaming terminal to select a game program stored in a memory unit of the server, and play a game conducted by a selected game program that is executed by a controller unit installed in the server or the gaming terminal. An input receiver unit of the server receives game recommendation data that identifies one or more types of the game programs stored in the memory unit. A display unit of the gaming terminal displays a game recommendation screen including an image for urging the player to select a type of game program identified by the game recommendation data, before the console unit of the gaming terminal receives data showing the type of game program selected by the player.

Abstract: A configuration is disclosed in which processes and controls can be carried out that differ with respect to a plurality of game terminals connected to a server device. When, during execution of a game program specified by a game selection operation, information indicating that an event prize has been won is received in a server communication processing unit from a game terminal, a control unit of a server device will read from a setting information unit action-setting information associated with the terminal ID of the game terminal that was the transmission source for the game selection operation information. In accordance with the action-setting information that was read, either a jackpot game or a free game will progress. More specifically, game rules for whether a jackpot game or free game will progress when an event prize is won in a slot game can be made to differ on an individual each game terminal basis.

Abstract: In a game system in which a game based on a plurality of types of game programs can be played on a plurality of game terminals, the pleasure of choosing a game machine that is provided by a typical conventional game system is similarly provided to a player using the present game system. A plurality of different identifiers are assigned to the same game program, and a virtual machine image corresponding to each of the identifiers is displayed on a display unit of a game terminal. A player decides what type of game he/she wishes to play by performing a game selection operation. Thereafter, the player performs a virtual machine selection operation to select the virtual machine image that corresponds to a virtual machine number that he/she wishes to choose so that he/she can play the game.

Abstract: In a system according to the present invention, a game based on a game program executed at a server device 50 can be played on each game terminal 1. In the present system, a credit process execution unit 46 that executes a credit adding process and credit storage unit 47 are provided in each game terminal 1. Therefore, no communication is necessary between each game terminal and the server device when credits equivalent of a deposit amount that is accepted by a deposit accepting unit 44 of each game terminal 1 are stored in a credit storage unit. This reduces the communication data volume between each game terminal and the server device in the system in which a player can play a game based on each of multiple kinds of game programs independently on each of a plurality of game terminals.

Abstract: A slot machine of the present invention having plural drum devices, each drum device comprises plural drums which have a cylindrical shape rotatable around the center axis and an array of plural symbols on its peripheral surface respectively, plural gyro sensors arranged in close vicinity to the center axis of each drum for detecting a rotating state of the center axis, and plural driving units for driving each drum. The drum device and slot machine using the drum device which detects the symbol positions of the drums in real time according to a rotating status of the center axis of the drums detected by the gyro sensor, and which do not require detection of an original position of starting of the drums, are provided.

Abstract: A game machine is disclosed which includes a display unit, a memory unit which stores a cell array and a plurality of game symbols, a display control unit, and a game control unit. The display control unit displays the cell array, a peripheral region surrounding the cell array, and the plurality of game symbols on the display unit, animates the plurality of game symbols so that the plurality of game symbols move across the cell array and the peripheral region along trajectories that include curved trajectories, and positions and displays a static combination of game symbols in the cell array. The game control unit selects the static combination of game symbols to be displayed in the cell array, and determines whether a winning combination of game symbols will be included in the static combination of game symbols.

Abstract: In a gaming machine provided with operating members actuated by human, a game processor proceeds a game in accordance with the actuation of the operating members. An inhibition requirement determinant determines whether a predetermined inhibition requirement is satisfied while the game processor proceeds the game. A game inhibiter performs game inhibition processing for diverting an attention of the player toward something other than the game, when the inhibition requirement determinant determines that the inhibition requirement is satisfied.

Abstract: A first communications unit of a display control unit exchanges commands with a second communications unit of a display unit, and thereby establishes a connection between the two communications units. In the display control unit, a communication managing unit compares the commands exchanged between the two communications units against valid or invalid commands stored in a command storage unit, and then accepts or rejects the connection between the two communications units based on the comparison, respectively. Furthermore, an encryption unit encrypts image data stored in a data storage unit, and the first communications unit repeatedly transfers the same image data at predetermined intervals. In the display unit, a decoding unit decodes data received by the second communications unit into image data, and then provides the image data to electronic paper. Images which correspond to the image data are reproduced on the electronic paper.

Abstract: An authentication device according to the present invention is preferably installed in a gaming machine. In this authentication device, in particular, an authentication data input unit is located on the rear side of a display unit. Furthermore, the screen of the display unit includes an authentication position where an authentication object (for example, a player's finger) is to approach or touch the screen. The authentication data input unit reads the authentication data (for example, fingerprint pattern data) through the screen from the authentication object approaching or touching the screen of the display unit.

Abstract: A game machine of the present invention displays symbols aligned in parallel symbol sequences. There is a half-width overlap between the display regions of the adjacent symbol sequences. The perimeter or frame of each symbol forms a polygonal shape. After continually switching among the symbols displayed, the game machine executes a stop control under which the vertices of specific symbols match each other not only between two adjacent symbol sequences, but also between two symbol sequences that are separated by one symbol sequence. The adjacency of the symbols can be detected not only between the two adjacent symbol sequences, but also between the symbol sequences that are separated by one symbol sequence.